The Argosy, Vol. 75, No. 4 — page 32: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

734 been observed if the little girl had been in: sight. | ‘Tam not a leetle girl! An’ eet ees who speaks?” she retorted. The voice, a vocalized expression of light and air, stirred Ted. Possibly be- cause it was about the only agreeable gung he had encountered since his ome-coming. “This ig Frederick Radford. Dr. Stratton was talking to you when the patient who needs the nurse demanded his attention. Will you ask the nurse to come at once —to 5 — Fifth Ave- nue?’’ Ted explained. “Pleas say to Doctaire Stratton Mees ‘Thorpe ees not here; but I weel phone where she ees an’ tell her to go at once to heem. Ask heem to tell her I bring her theengs to her thair.” The little girl evidently considered the interview over; she hung up the re- ceiver. Radford delivered the mes- sage with a ghost of a smile accom- panying it. If Midge had been less concerned with his patient, and he a~ trifle less burdened with the thought of his own unsatisfactory situation, he might have observed that the little lady of the pleasant voice must be a ‘ cute kid.’ As it was, and after the manner of young men with little girls, he for- got her. Feeling that his desertion while Bul- - len’s fate was in the balance necessi- tated apology, he stood at the foot of the bed and picked up the leather belt casually. “Tf you don’t need me, Midge, I’ve got some business that must be looked after,” he said, feeling the soft leather with the approving fingers of a con- noisseur. He wanted to get to a telephone where there was no danger of his be- ing heard and interview Marsh, the family lawyer. His mother’s state- ment of his complete ruin might be a woman's exaggerated expression of a condition that was not hopeless.- He felt that he must know certainly. Stratton objected quietly to his go- ing. He might be needed. If he had - THE ARGOSY. to call on some one else the undesirable presence of Mr. Bullen would become more a matter of curiosity than was agreeable. Ted silently accepted the -situation; but Stratton could see that he grew more and more uneasy as the time passed and Miss Thorpe did not ap- pear. Finally he started up from the chair where he had thrown himself and fal- len into a reverie and an uncommuni- cativeness that was sufficiently unlike him to stimulate Stratton’s wonder more than ever. ‘Midge! Dve got to go! I can't wait any longer. It’s—it’s a matter of vital importance to me. I’m—it looks as if I were all in financially. I’ve got to do something.” Stratton looked up quickly. He and Radford lived very different lives; but he immediately jumped at the conclu- sion that Ted had been gambling or otherwise involved himself to an ex- tent which made him anxious. He in- stantly offered his small resources to his friend. “You couldn’t help me out now, old chap! Thank you just the same,” Ted exclaimed gratefully. Midge received the impression that Ted’s need went beyond the power of his limited finances to supply. It ex- plained somewhat the unwonted ab- sorption which had perplexed him. ‘“ Miss Thorpe ought to be along any time now. I won't detain you if it’s so important—” ‘“Tmportant!’’ Ted burst out. everything! ” There was no room for doubt of the desperate position in which Radford stood. His manner and his words con- vinced Stratton of that. “* Say, Ted, I’d like to know a little more about this chap before you go,” sé It’s -he said, as Radford turned toward the door. “You; know as much as I—almost. He came into the library. It was just when mother was leaving; and I guess I got a bit excited for fear something Eomichoo S (E@)